Preply vs. Japademy: Which Has Better Japanese Tutors?

Overview

Have you ever found yourself wondering, "Which Japanese learning option is actually going to help me the most and truly be worth my hard-earned time and money?" It's a completely valid question, and honestly, it's one we hear quite often! When you're diving into the exciting world of online Japanese learning, making the right choice can feel a bit daunting.

In this article, we're going to pull back the curtain on two popular Japanese learning websites: Preply and, of course, us – Japademy. Both platforms connect you with Japanese tutors for private lessons, and while we, at Japademy, firmly believe our Japanese online private lessons are fantastic for helping students succeed, we also think it's crucial for you to have all the facts. So, in the spirit of transparency, here's an honest, side-by-side comparison of learning Japanese with a tutor through Preply versus Japademy.

Just a quick heads-up: all prices and features we mention here are accurate as of right now, but things can change, you know how it is!

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Preply vs Japademy - Japanese language tutors

If you're on the hunt for a Japanese learning website that offers a good selection of tutors you can browse through, you'll find that both Japademy and Preply have you covered. They both let you peek at tutor profiles, see their time zones, and even check out their real-time schedules. This is super helpful for figuring out who you connect with and what times actually fit into your busy life. Plus, a big bonus for both is that their tutors can chat in English at a conversational level, making it so much easier to explain your goals and needs.

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Now, here's where things get a bit different. One of the biggest distinctions between Preply and us at Japademy is that Preply's Japanese tutors aren't necessarily native speakers, nor are they always certified in teaching Japanese. For me, and I bet for many of you too, that's a pretty big deal. It could mean missing out on that truly authentic and structured Japanese learning experience you're hoping for, and it might even make it harder to fully immerse yourself in the language and culture. So, if you're leaning towards Preply, my advice would be to really dig into each tutor's profile before you commit to a lesson.

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Preply: Japanese tutors aren't necessarily native speakers or certified in Japanese teaching.

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On the flip side, every single one of Japademy's Japanese language tutors is a native speaker and fully certified to teach the language. With their guidance, you'll be diving into an authentic and structured learning environment. Think about it: learning proper grammar, getting that pronunciation and intonation just right, and truly understanding cultural nuances – that's what we aim for. And honestly, the best part? You won't have to endlessly scroll through lists of tutors, playing a trial-and-error game. We've curated a short, carefully selected list of the very best tutors we can offer.

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Japademy: Our Japanese tutors are all native speakers and hold Japanese teaching certifications.

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Preply vs Japademy - Japanese learning experience

Both Japademy and Preply offer live online lessons with tutors; ours are 55 minutes, and Preply's are 50 minutes. These live sessions are fantastic for creating an interactive space where you can chat with your tutor and get real-time feedback on your pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. And let's be real, the convenience factor is huge – being able to pick a time that works for you and learn from pretty much anywhere is a game-changer.

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Lessons duration comparison:

• Japademy's live online lessons last 55 minutes.
• Preply's live online lessons last 50 minutes.

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However, where we really see a significant divergence is in our learning programs. Preply's learning programs are essentially set by each individual tutor, largely because they're all competing with one another. This does mean lessons can be incredibly customizable, which is pretty cool. For instance, if you're planning a trip to Japan and just want to nail conversational Japanese, you could find a tutor who specializes in that, or simply tell your chosen tutor your goal. They'd then design lessons around real-life scenarios, like asking for directions or ordering food.

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Preply: Lessons don't have an established learning program, which might not always lead you directly towards fluency. You can often find a tutor who can tailor their teaching style to your specific needs and goals.

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At Japademy, on the other hand, we've put a lot of thought into developing an established learning program designed to maximize your learning outcomes. We follow a structured methodology: each lesson introduces a new topic or grammar point, and you get ample opportunity to master it by practicing with your tutor. For our private lessons, we've got beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, so you can jump in wherever you feel most comfortable. But don't worry, if you want something a bit more personal, our native tutors are absolutely fantastic at tailoring lessons to your specific needs and goals. This structured approach is really what helps our students build a solid foundation and work towards fluency.

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Japademy: Lessons have an established learning program designed to help you reach fluency. Our native tutors can still personalize lessons to your needs and goals.

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Oh, and here's a little something extra: We at Japademy offer free trial lessons to interested students, something you typically won't find with tutors on Preply. A free trial is such a great way to see if a tutor's style and the lessons themselves are a good fit for your Japanese learning journey.

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Free trial lesson comparison: Japademy Offers free trial lessons (limited to one per student). Preply does not offer free trial lessons.

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Preply vs Japademy - Japanese lessons pricing

Let's be honest, pricing is always a big piece of the puzzle when you're deciding on private lessons. On Preply, the lesson price can swing quite a bit depending on the tutor you pick. Typically, you'll see an average price per lesson somewhere between $19 and $39 USD, which, interestingly enough, could be lower or significantly higher than what you'd find with us. And here’s a potential snag: even if prices are shown in your local currency, you'll likely be charged in USD, which can sometimes lead to sneaky hidden fees from your bank or credit card company. Preply also operates on a membership model where you're automatically charged every four weeks, but they don't offer lesson packages, which many learners prefer as a way to lower the cost per lesson.

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Preply:

• Subscription pricing model available.
• No lesson packages pricing model available.
• The average price per lesson varies significantly based on the tutor.
• You must pay in USD regardless of your country of residence, potentially incurring hidden fees.

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Now, at Japademy, we've got a different approach. We offer lesson packages: 5, 10, and 15-lesson options. The more lessons you buy, the bigger the discount, which really brings down the cost per lesson. Our average cost per lesson is around $25 USD, and a huge plus is that you can pay in over 150 currencies, helping you avoid those pesky hidden fees. Another fantastic benefit with us is that the price of our lessons stays the same, no matter which tutor you choose. This completely eliminates the headache of trying to figure out why some teachers charge more than others, a common issue you might face on platforms like Preply.

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Japademy:

• Offers lesson packages (5, 10, and 15 lessons).
• The average price per lesson is consistent regardless of the tutor.
• You can pay in over 150 currencies.

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Preply vs Japademy - Extra benefits

When we talk about the extra perks for students, there's quite a noticeable difference between Japademy and Preply. With Preply's tutors, you generally won't find a lot of supplementary learning resources. They also typically don't provide additional free video lessons or a level completion certificate.

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Preply:

• No free video lesson access.
• No vocabulary flashcards provided.
• No level completion certificate given.

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Here at Japademy, we truly believe that learning extends beyond just the lesson time. That's why we give our students free access to our Japanese video lessons and our free Japanese learning app. This allows you to study and practice at your own pace, which, in my experience, really helps accelerate progress. On top of that, we provide a certificate of completion for every level you finish. These certificates are sent via email in PDF format and even have a unique number to validate their authenticity.

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Japademy:

• Provides free video lesson access.
• Provides vocabulary flashcards.
• Provides a level completion certificate.

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So, let's consider this for a moment: With Japademy, you'll pay an average of $25 USD to learn with a native Japanese tutor who actually has a teaching certification. You'll get structured lessons and a bunch of additional learning resources to help you confidently progress towards Japanese fluency. On the other hand, with Preply, you might pay more or less per lesson, but you could be learning from a tutor who isn't a native Japanese speaker, might not have teaching certification, and likely won't provide those extra learning materials. If you ask me, from a cost-benefit perspective, our lessons with native, certified tutors offer a much more complete and authentic learning experience.

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Preply vs Japademy - Final verdict

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If your goal is to learn Japanese through online private lessons taught by truly native Japanese tutors, then our Japademy Japanese Online Private Lessons are definitely the perfect fit for you. With our private lessons, you'll get to explore Japanese culture and learn at your own pace, all from the comfort of your home (or anywhere, really!) while interacting with our incredible teachers in a live, classroom-like setting. Honestly, with Japademy, our Japanese language tutors become more than just teachers; they become your trusted friend and guide on your exciting journey toward Japanese fluency.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Thinking about diving into private Japanese lessons with us? Here are some common questions we get!

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Are Preply tutors vetted for quality?

Not strictly. Anyone can sign up to tutor on Preply. Japademy takes the risk out of it by only hiring Native, Certified Professional Teachers who go through rigorous training.

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Does Preply have hidden fees?

You are often charged in USD regardless of where you live, leading to bank fees. Japademy allows you to pay in your local currency (CAD, AUD, JPY, etc.) with 0 hidden fees.

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What is the "Subscription Model" on Preply?

Preply forces you into a 4-week billing cycle. Japademy offers flexible Lesson Packages (5, 10, or 15 lessons) that you own and use at your own pace—no "use it or lose it" pressure.

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Is the price the same for every teacher on Japademy?

Yes! On Preply, you have to choose between a "cheap" student and an "expensive" pro. At Japademy, every teacher is a pro, and the price is always consistent and transparent.

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Does Japademy offer a free trial?

Yes! We offer a Free 30-minute Trial Lesson. Preply does not offer free trials; you must pay for your first session with a new tutor.